"If thou wouldest enjoy the
eminent grace of the full assurance of faith, under the blessed
Spirit's influence, and assistance, do what the Scripture tells thee,
"Give diligence." Take care that thy faith is
of the right kind—that it is not a mere belief of doctrine, but a
simple faith, depending on Christ, and on Christ alone. Give diligent
heed to thy courage. Plead with God that He would give thee
the face of a lion, that thou mayest, with a consciousness of right,
go on boldly. Study well the Scriptures, and get knowledge;
for a knowledge of doctrine will tend very much to confirm faith. Try
to understand God's Word; let it dwell in thy heart richly.

When thou hast done this, "Add to
thy knowledge temperance." Take heed to thy body: be
temperate without. Take heed to thy soul: be temperate within. Get
temperance of lip, life, heart, and thought. Add to this, by God's
Holy Spirit, patience; ask Him to give thee that patience
which endureth affliction, which, when it is tried, shall come forth
as gold. Array yourself with patience, that you may not murmur nor be
depressed in your afflictions. When that grace is won look to
godliness. Godliness is something more than religion.

Make God's glory your object in life;
live in His sight; dwell close to Him; seek for fellowship with Him;
and thou hast "godliness"; and to that add brotherly
love. Have a love to all the saints: and add to that a charity,
which openeth its arms to all men, and loves their souls. When you
are adorned with these jewels, and just in proportion as you practise
these heavenly virtues, will you come to know by clearest evidence
"your calling and election." "Give diligence."

5 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge;6 and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness;7 and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love.8 For
if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor
unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.9 For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.10 Wherefore,
brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election
sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble:11 for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.12 Wherefore
I shall be ready always to put you in remembrance of these things,
though ye know them, and are established in the truth which is with you.